Did the ZOLEO FAIL??? One Year Zoleo Review.

Рет қаралды 13,037

Күн бұрын

ZOLEO SATELLITE COMMUNICATOR: bit.ly/2N2JnpW
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Пікірлер: 94

@bucky716 2 жыл бұрын

No regrets buying and using a Zoleo. Rugged, simple, and works.

@JoeWilderness 2 жыл бұрын

Great video, as always pal. I don't have a sat comm yet, but I've known for a while that this is the one I'll pick up based solely on your reviews. Seems super simple to use and affordable when you factor in long term value and the peace of mind.

@jameshooper3484 2 жыл бұрын

Hey John! I've been eying this device since I first found your initial video on it. I finally made the purchase (using your REI affiliate link) about 2 weeks ago. I got it in the mail and set it up, super easy. I'm heading out for my first Adirondack hike with it in 2 weeks and so far, I LOVE this thing. My wife and mother thank you! I saw the title of this video and straight up panicked for a second!🤣 The cons seem really minor to me, in comparison to the pros. I'm confident that this was a good purchase for me. Thanks for sharing it!

@mackjenkins7721 2 жыл бұрын

Hey buddy how are you doing? That was a great 1-year review man. I like how you touched on the cons because that is very important information. I hope the company listens to your advice and upgrade those for next year products. I hope you are doing okay John. You and your family have a good weekend.

@john_kelley 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Mack! Thanks! You have a great weekend too!

@jonsaad 2 жыл бұрын

Nice review John! You can still use the check-in button and the SOS on the Zoleo without a phone, so not totally worthless without. There is a dimming option for the blinking lights but still wish you could just turn them off. You can also do check-ins to 5 contacts since the last update. Been working great for me, the tradeoff for the weight is the long battery life! I went backpacking for 11 days and still had 30% when done using location share for several hours per day. I usually lower my message check rate to once per hour from the default 12 minutes which saves battery.

@gemoonopra 2 жыл бұрын

Where is the green light dimming setting on the Zoleo? Just curious, I might probably have one in future.

@BackcountryPilgrim 2 жыл бұрын

Well done John, adds credibility to start with the negatives even though you're an ambassador. I've noticed numerous times my check-ins don't include gps info which seems like it could be a serious problem.

@john_kelley 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Doug! Have you talked with them about it?

@wesschimpf5155 2 ай бұрын

Great insight! You helped give me more confidence if I decide to get a Zoleo, lots of good features. I want something just to check in and get help if I need, don't need too many bells and whistles.

@putrescentcadaver 2 жыл бұрын

I had been interested in the Zoleo for quite a while then I saw your video and bought one. When i got it back in May it was only $150. Haven't activated yet as my hiking this year has been almost non-existent. Hopefully next year will be able to get some use

@russwagers 2 жыл бұрын

Great review John!

@foxtookmysox 2 жыл бұрын

You can dim the brightness of the led lights in the app. Just bought one and found that while exploring the app

@Alex-yx8wb 2 жыл бұрын

I just used a similar device last weekend for a 15 mile section of the Sheltowee Trace. I chose the Somewear device which also has a companion app and requires a phone for messaging but it is almost seemless. I could pull from my contacts and it automatically switches from cell to satellite depending on signal. Its a little more expensive but I was impressed with the total package and no bright blinking lights lol.

@john_kelley 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve seen that one online. Glad it works well for you.

@banyantree8618 10 ай бұрын

I brought the Zoleo as a last minute purchase and really glad I did. Easy to set up, battery is great, did what it was supposed to do, kept my five contacts up to date. Where it really came into play - needed to get a unplanned helicopter and used the Zoleo to talk to the helicopter operator and pilot via adding contact to phone then simply sms messaging. Yep, USB-C would be great and save on an additional cable, but not a deal breaker.

@secureone22 2 жыл бұрын

Piece of black electrical tape over the light to block it out works well

@livingsimplytosimplylive6817 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the awesome review

@john_kelley 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the awesome comment!

@MrMann703 11 ай бұрын

I like your honesty about the cons, some of those are valid for me. I have both a Garmin Montana 800i, which I bought to have the inreach option, I bought the Fenix 7x sapphire watch. I've been thinking of selling my Montana and getting one of these, I carry a solar charger for my phone so the app connection would be fine. Great video and thank you for your thoughts

@MrMann703 11 ай бұрын

In Canada Zoleo has a better plan than the inreach plan also, that's a nice bonus also

@Johnnywalleye1 2 жыл бұрын

We used it on a trip in the Boundary water canoe area and it was great . We used old school map for navigation.

@john_kelley 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome!

@redneckreviews3016 Жыл бұрын

Got mine for a annual camping trip in north sask so my wife knows im alive. Lol works well. Was cheap too

@audrey3319 2 жыл бұрын

Nice review thanks. I've used inreach in past,,,my beef was how difficult to type and the super teensy screens hard to see. Question, what gpa watch are you using,,have you done a review on it and I just haven't come across it? Thanks for above zoleo review, by far the most thorough and informative

@willellison8916 Жыл бұрын

You said you used this device in the GSMNP, were you strictly on the AT or were you up and down the valley's? If you were in the valley's how well did it work? I know that there is canopy through out most of the Park and I would imagine that it wouldn't work very well. Thanks for your help.

@tristatehikershikinggroup12 Жыл бұрын

Great video

@DameEdnaBrown Жыл бұрын

Great info

@barbarahultman5450 2 жыл бұрын

Do check ins count toward your message count? Whaling if you send a check in or a message to mote thank one person - is each recipient counted as a message? Or is a group message just one message?

@OfficialLILV 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video =)

@kensmith7567 2 жыл бұрын

You can turn down the LED brightness from the app (I had the same issue at night)

@john_kelley 2 жыл бұрын

I’m going to look for that. Thanks!

@dustyroads834 2 жыл бұрын

I have to say to the whiners that say the Zoleo is too big or too heavy to just go away and play with they’re little Inreach mini with it’s mini battery. Zoleo was made for real out there people. Not just weekend adventures who will be back to they’re cars by dark to recharge the mini.

@kneepayne 2 жыл бұрын

I certainly respect your opinion and note the cons you mentioned. For me, the cons are pretty trivial. Everyone has their own metrics. You got to know what works for you.

@thereconrigger4956 2 жыл бұрын

As far as your green light problem, electrical tape brother, that's what I do on any type of tech that has flashing lights of any kind. They annoy the hell out of me lol, electrical tape works great, just throw a small piece over the light itself n boom, no more flashing

@jonsanford2515 2 жыл бұрын

I looked pretty hard at a Zoleo, but bought a Garmin mini last Christmas while it was on sale. Garmin solves most of your cons, has cheaper monthly plans, and has the ability to use all the features without a phone. The two features I wish Garmin had that Zoleo does, is the dedicated number, and the ability to automatically switch to cell service if available. You have to send out a message to someone before they can send you an incoming message, and once you use it to send a message Garmin uses satellites to communicate 100% as long as you use that thread.

@RyanSchell 2 жыл бұрын

Are the plans really cheaper? I've only looked at them on paper, and all the footnotes, so I could be missing something. But it seems like for the same middle price point ($35) and the freedom to remove the plan on months you know you won't use it, that with the Zoleo you get 210 messages more than Garmin. All the features without needing a phone though might be worth the difference though. But my experience borrowing my friends on a couple trips is the phone app is very nice and not a big deal to use. I like it because I can put the device where it has line of sight to the sky, but be standing or sitting somewhere else sending messages

@Inkling777 Жыл бұрын

@@RyanSchell I found the same thing. Garmin forces you to choose between an almost nothing plan and a too-pricey one. Zoleo's offer of 250 texts for $35 a month is about right for me. We should keep in mind that each of these companies is well-aware of the other. Competition will force them to add features and limit prices. There's none of the lock-in we have with Android v. iPhones. Your only major investment is the device and you can sell it to limit that loss.

@unoseemetoo 2 жыл бұрын

Electric tape over the majority of the green light?

@Inkling777 Жыл бұрын

It weighs 3.5 ounces? If a life-saving tool like that strains your back, then perhaps you need to stay home, siting on a couch and watching the kitty videos on KZfaq. That said, I do agree with you about that USB mini connection. I'm delaying buying one in part because I'm waiting for USB-C. I also think Zoleo should offer a rugged, dedicated device-little more than a screen and small keyboard-that pairs with the Zoleo for situations where the smartphone is dysfunctional. ((They do partly deal with that by having the Zoleo able to recharge that phone.) I also like Zoleo's plans better than those of the InReach. Finally, your flashing green light problem could easily be solve. Just slap a small strip of black electrical tape over it.

@kensvoice Жыл бұрын

Will the Zoleo work inside a cave where doesn’t provide an open area?

@poppy3215 2 жыл бұрын

I got my Zoleo about the same time as you. For me, the biggest negative is that it must have full view of the sky. I live and hike in Tennessee, and here, a lot of the time I am on the "green tunnel" trails. Under the canopy, or in cloudy skies, forget it, won't send.

@Inkling777 Жыл бұрын

That's unfortunately true of all these pocket-sized satellite systems. The available bands are so far up-spectrum that foliage blocks the signals. Just be glad you have system that use Iridium satellites. The latest iPhones use Globalstar, a system so poor Apple had to use a directional antenna to hit them and require users to point that antenna. If there's a mountain in the way, you're just out of luck-or dead. I did spend a couple of days watching the paths of those Iridium satellites over me. There's almost always one above the horizon. But those that are only about thirty-degrees up, can be blocked by hills and trees. But typically about one-third of the passes are almost overhead, and may evade that green tunnel effect. Position the device and best you can and wait for one of those passes, perhaps one in every twenty minutes. Also, if the Zoleo is including a position report, it has to wait for a good GPS location. That too can take time in the woods.

@KrizAkoni 2 жыл бұрын

Nice review - I wish the Garmin 66i had removable batteries. Seems there is no one device that does everything well.

@john_kelley 2 жыл бұрын

Removable batteries would be nice. That’s for sure!

@jetco5906 2 жыл бұрын

@@john_kelley I favor the rechargeable battery so I can recharge mine off my Anker.

@Doc_Watson 2 жыл бұрын

Don't use one yet. Probably should since I like to bushwack occasionally. My next purchase for backpacking will probably be a GPS I can use for the bushwacking just so that I'm not going through my phone's battery as quickly. (I did pick up a low end Garmin watch. It's nice, but I don't like wearing a watch and will probably return it.)

@john_kelley 2 жыл бұрын

Mine has come in handy.

@brianm9282 2 жыл бұрын

That unit uses a USB Micro, not a USB Mini, that's what old Blackberry's used.

@nickp1167 10 ай бұрын

I enjoyed it until the grey rubber warped after taking it camping 2.5 years after having it.

@YoungGunzBass01 2 жыл бұрын

I considered the Zoleo. But the inreach mini was the winner by a mile between weight and function The zoleo does have some attractive pricing. Especially the mid tier.

@cougarmeat8803 Жыл бұрын

The USB port is used for charging, not data transfer. Are you saying it would change faster with a C cable? Dim the light by putting a piece of tape over part of the light. With the addition of the new Location+ option, I believe you can send Check-In messages to up to 5 people (same as Location, a.k.a. Tracking). Can't complain about weight/size and at the same time praise it for its long battery life and rigid case.

@navstar52 2 жыл бұрын

For moto camping it is pretty close to perfect, maybe you just need to get Garmin to give you an Inreach mini.

@jdsmith8135 2 жыл бұрын

Great info. Been looking for a first satellite communicator to take on longer trips. This one caught my eye. Lot of bang for the buck as an entry level unit.

@john_kelley 2 жыл бұрын

It’s a great unit!

@shaunlehman9158 2 жыл бұрын

It’s awesome I love mine!! It works all over the back country of Alaska from the far north to south east

@cassidysummer509 2 жыл бұрын

That's not a USB Mini - it's a USB Micro... mini is seriously an old plug. The Micro is just phasing out now... I agree, a USB C would be so much faster.

@brianwinburn1561 2 жыл бұрын

Can you suspend your subscription for months you don’t use it like with Garmin?

@soccerdad8374 2 жыл бұрын

Zoleo is $4 per month, Garmin is free

@bucky716 2 жыл бұрын

@@soccerdad8374 Benefit of the $4 though is that you keep the same phone number.

@ChrisSgaraglino 2 жыл бұрын

The one thing that stopped me from buying this unit is that fact that they charge $6 ADDITIONAL to have the GPS Location sent with each message! I am assuming the SOS will send it, but having a locator that doesn’t send to location is like buying a Truck with no wheels!

@verifiedactualgamer 2 жыл бұрын

you can send location as a text or as a manual check in with the button on the device, the extra 6 bucks is to have automatic location sharing sent at a user set interval, not with each message, and viewable on a map within the app, so even without manualy checking in or sending coordates your emergency contact can see your trail and most recent location

@ayerscooking 2 жыл бұрын

I've had mine for almost a year now. My only issue is when you get deep into the West Virginia mountains it becomes a 5-ounce paperweight. But, I would assume any other satellite communicator would do the same.

@john_kelley 2 жыл бұрын

I think you’re right. Every sat comm that I’ve seen has the same issue.

@mobilewintercamp7515 2 жыл бұрын

That’s why SETI is there 👽

@john_kelley 2 жыл бұрын

@@mobilewintercamp7515 😂😂😂

@shaunlehman9158 2 жыл бұрын

Mine works every in Alaska never had any issues with it

@allangmiller Жыл бұрын

So if a hiker falls in the forest and no-one hears it... 🤔

@jeffpeters5347 2 жыл бұрын

Come on John, your title is clickbait man! When I saw your title, I literally said out loud “It better not be, I just bought a Zoleo!” 😆

@john_kelley 2 жыл бұрын

I was just asking a question….😁

@palmettopastor 2 жыл бұрын

Good info but click bait is heinous.

@robnoodle1 2 жыл бұрын

Place a piece of duct tape of the lights

@cdncarol 2 жыл бұрын

I follow your channel and find your posts entertaining and informative. Can we please ditch the sensational headlines? Epic fail? Really? Contrary to the content.

@HarryKuloh 2 жыл бұрын

The clickbait headlines and video screengrabs are very disingenuous and annoying. Downvoted.

@kiltrohiker5568 2 жыл бұрын

Zoleo required the wifi of you phone on in order to send messages... as consequences the battery of your phone die really fast... it's my only CON.

@soccerdad8374 2 жыл бұрын

Well John - I am going to have to disagree with you on this. Zoleo - $20 per month, plus $6 for location information. 3 month minimum and $4 per month to temporary suspend account. Very limited on how many people you can send to. Phone required, except for SOS. Garmin InReach - $15 per month with unlimited preset messages with location (3 of them) and I have sent them to over a dozen text and email addresses. My 3 presets are: 1 - Arrived at campsite, everything good; 2 - Running late to campsite, everything good; 3 - Leaving camp. You can also send regular texts, but I have never needed to. Actually, I have never used the phone app because it is so easy to send the preset's. Phone battery dead - sure both units can send an SOS, but only with the Garmin can you receive help progress messages and send them details on the nature of the SOS. I feel you should have included 2 charts with the video comparing the costs and another comparing the features. Thanks for being up front about you getting your product and service for free. Even thought I feel your viewers did not get a good comparison, I still love you man. :)

@john_kelley 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the info. The inreach is definitely nice. This wasn’t a comparison video, though. I’ve never owned an inreach, so I can’t really compare the two. I do have a lot of friends who use it, though.

@BoneFromTheDale 2 жыл бұрын

You may want to do a little more research into the prices and such for the ZOLEO. You’ve got quite a bit of your info wrong. The location is not extra money. You can message anyone who has a phone or email address and it’s not limited to any amount of people at all. The three month minimum os only the first three months, after that it’s monthly and you don’t have to pay the $4 a month for not using it if you don’t mind losing your dedicated phone number (which btw you don’t get with garmin). The only thing the garmin does better in my opinion is that it’s a gps map as well as a communicator but not if you get the mini. Oh and not to mention the base price of the device is way higher for a garmin.

@allangmiller Жыл бұрын

@@BoneFromTheDale Slight disagreement - you *do* pay extra for location with Zoleo; it's on screen at 6.28: $6. Unless you mean the embedded location info, which is indeed free. On tracking, the Garmin Safety plan charges 10¢ a ping, which would soon rack up on 10 minute tracking, making Zoleo the winner after just 10 hours. You also get 25 messages on Zoleo basic vs Garmin's 10, and don't have to pay a 'freedom' fee and monthly premium for the privilege of being able to cancel inside a year. What I would like to see is a count of messages used. They must have this info! Also not clear if send to many is 1 message or many.

@BoneFromTheDale Жыл бұрын

@@allangmiller I don’t pay extra at all for location ping messages. They are definitely free, I send them and check in messages more than others because they don’t count against your total messages. Also now they have offline maps you can download that they’ve added in the last year. Which also are free.

@allangmiller Жыл бұрын

@@BoneFromTheDale Yes, as I said embedded location info is free. But there is a tracking add on for $6, and it must do something!

@neostephens8980 2 жыл бұрын

Dude, did you buy that thing to check with your wife or other people's spouses? As far as the light flashing, do you sleep with your eyes open? Just turn it the other way, besides, that could also be a plus if you dropped it somewhere at night. IJS

@kenherzog1 2 жыл бұрын

Nice title...click bait much?

@peterjig8465 2 жыл бұрын

you sold it

@creepysalamanderguy 2 жыл бұрын

I couldn't get them to take my money for the subscription. Very poor customer service. It did work well on my last excursion though. At the least, they didn't leave me high and dry with no emergency coms.

@shaunlehman9158 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve had great experiences with the customer service and the unit itself has always worked for me all over Alaska